March 26, 2008Can anything good be found in this ever-more suffocating Michigan recession?

Fortunately, what I hear from most practical Michiganians is what can be done instead of what can't.

A family member suggested hard times might force us to put more trust in our Maker and less in our own abilities.

A farmer says now's the time to bring a little more attention to the state's second largest industry—agriculture, which soon enough might become number one.

A friend who lost her engineering job due to downsizing, manages to joke about the unexpected cut. Now she'll have lots of free time to spend with family and friends, she writes in an email, ending with an exclamation point!

I would wager that more people are sticking closer to home—shopping locally, spending time with family, hitting the library for 'cheap' entertainment, etc.

Maybe more of us will find the time to grow some of our own food after a trip to the greenhouse or spruce up our yards with a flat of flowers.

Just like executives at the helm of our state's corporation, we are all fine-tuning our own household budgets—purging the excess and getting creative where need be.

I hope local business owners will embrace their chance to do the same—evaluate what works and what doesn't, re-think marketing, explore what Web-based aids are out there.

Cutbacks aren't to be cheered, but like a good 'spring cleaning,' this is our chance to sweep away the dust and cobwebs that complacency brings and resolve to forge a clear and distinct plan for the future.